Today is what we call "Natural Family Day". When we first started back in the '60s, the general thought was that if you separated the children from the parents what went wrong in that family would go away. I found that to be a dismal failure.
I believe that parents and children need time and opportunity to work things out, whether or not they can change behavior, they need a chance. We started "NFD" to make a time for positive interaction and good memories. We play games, do a cooperative craft, feed the lunch, and answer questions.
Some children use this time to visit former foster families, some visit siblings, grandparents, or other family members. Some of the children have no other family members, so we find "visiting friends" for them.
From the vantage point of old age, I have the privilege and honor to sit at grandchildren's birthday parties with the natural parents I helped to put together with their children.
I am the one who is blessed!
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